TAKING JESUS SERIOUSLY
Introduction: Many times when people say things to us that are hard to believe, we may
reply, "are you serious?" However, Jesus was serious in everything he said.
I HE WAS SERIOUS IN HIS PREACHING.
People in the time of Jesus would often say that he did not preach like the scribes
and the Pharisees. Traditional Jewish teaching taught people to live so they could be
healthy, wealthy, and wise. Although Jesus might have included some traditional
teaching in his preaching, he taught some things which were out of the ordinary. Indeed,
some of them were difficult to practice and believe. "If anyone strikes you on the right
cheek, turn the other also." Was he serious? "If anyone wants to sue you and take your
coat, give him your cloak also." Was he serious? "Give to everyone who begs from you,
and do not refuse anyone who wishes to borrow from you" Was he serious? "Love your
enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Was he serious in the things he taught?
He talked a great deal of a future kingdom. In fact, when I attended a Bible school years
ago, one of my teachers taught that things in Matthew 5 were for a future kingdom and
not for today. What do we do with the teachings of Jesus that are hard to do? Do we
ignore them because they are difficult to do? However, I maintain that Jesus was
serious.
II HE WAS SERIOUS IN HIS PREDICTION OF RISING FROM THE DEAD
There is no doubt that Jesus was serious about his rising from the dead. He spoke
about his resurrection in John 21: 18-22 by relating the rebuilding of the temple to the
raising of his body. In Matthew 12:39,40 he compared his resurrection to a sign of
Jonah. In Matthew 16:21 he spoke of himself rising from the grave in three days.
In John 10:17,18, he spoke of power to raise his body again. Also the religious
authorities knew of his claim to rise from the grave.( Matthew 27:62-64.) However, did
the disciples take Jesus seriously? Imagine how you would feel if a friend of yours said,
"Oh you know, I am going to rise from the grave." Would you think he had lost his mind?
Would you say,"are you serious?" One writer has said that perhaps the disciples were
thinking that Jesus was speaking in a metaphor similar to Ezekiel writing about dry
bones coming to life. After all, Jesus had spoken in metaphors when he talked about
eating his flesh and drinking his blood. Evidently they did not take him seriously or they
would not have been so astonished when he did arise.
In John 20 Thomas expressed his doubt that Jesus had risen even when the others told
him they had seen him. Perhaps he thought they had seen a ghost or a spirit. Certainly,
they were not serious when they said that they had seen Jesus. Thomas is known as
doubting Thomas, but he was determined not to fall prey to any hoax or deception. He
had to see for himself. Put yourself in Thomas' shoes, would you have believed such a
story? Would you have taken it seriously? Thomas said to himself, "I don't believe it.
Some deception is taking place. How could anyone in his right mind take something like
a resurrection seriously? " Thomas had to look before he took it seriously. Thomas like
the others had heard Jesus speak of a resurrection.
However, Thomas needed to know that Jesus was serious when he spoke about
a resurrection. After all, this was not just anybody talking about a resurrection.
This was God almighty in human flesh talking.
Whatever God says is serious. Whenever God speaks, things happen. God was serious
when he spoke the world into being. God was serious when he called the light out of
darkness. Whenever God speaks he is serious. He was serious when he spoke the sun
and stars into their places. He is serious in whatever he says. When God through Jesus
spoke of a resurrection, he was serious. Jesus was not just a man telling a fairy story.
This was God almighty speaking the truth about the resurrection. Finally, when Thomas
saw Jesus for himself, he cried out, "My Lord and my God." The resurrection was the
real thing. Whatever Jesus says must be taken seriously! Just a look at Jesus was
sufficient for Thomas. We can join Thomas and say, "My Lord and My God."
III HE WAS SERIOUS IN HIS PROMISES
Jesus was not only serious about his teachings and his resurrection, but he was serious
about his promises to us. Jesus has left several promises, but we want to focus on four
special ones.
A.Jesus was serious about his promise of answering prayer.
In John 14:13,14, Jesus says," if in my name you ask for anything, I will do it." Was
Jesus serious? Many of us can attest to the fact that Jesus was serious. He will answer
prayer. We recognize that Jesus wants to give us whatever will draw us closer to him
and fulfills his desire for our lives. A hymn by Crystal Lewis reflects this as she writes, "I
must tell Jesus. I cannot bear these burdens alone. I must tell Jesus all of my trials.
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone. Jesus is serious about answering prayer.
B Jesus was serious when he said he would be with us always.
In Matthew 28, Jesus says, "Remember I am with you always." I remember at the
funeral of President Lyndon Johnson the minister said that the president was alone
when he died. Then he reminded us that we are never alone in life or in death. This
reminds of a hymn, "No never alone. No never alone. He promised never to leave us,
never to leave us alone."Jesus was serious when he said that he would always be with
us, in life or death.
C Jesus was serious when he promised us eternal life.
In John 3 when Jesus told Nicodemus he had to be born again, we are not sure when Jesus
stopped speaking or where the writer John picks up. Nevertheless, it is clear that Jesus
promised us eternal life. The NRSV bible has the whole passage in quotes to indicate
that that Jesus himself is still speaking.This is no doubt that Jesus was serious when he
promised us eternal life. A former slave boat captain named John Newton expressed it well
when he wrote, "amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once
was lost, but now I'm found, was blind but now i see." Jesus was serious when he offered
us eternal life with him.
D Jesus was serious when he said that in his father's house were mansions. He said that
he was going to provide a place for us that where he was we would be also. We believe
that this promise is for us as well as his disciples. This in many ways is the most serious
of the promises.
We have validated the other promises for ourselves. We know Jesus was
serious about answering prayer because he has answered our prayers many times. We
know he was serious when he said he would be with us since we have felt his presence
close to us. We know he was serious about eternal life because in the words of one writer
we are "saved by his power divine, saved by new life sublime. Life now is sweet and my
joy is complete for I'm saved, saved, saved!" We know we are redeemed because we
have received Jesus as savior according to John 3:16.
However, was Jesus really serious when he said that in his father's house were many rooms
or mansions and that he was preparing a place for us? We know that was a figure of speech,
but was Jesus serious when he said we shall be with him also?
Shall we really be with Jesus? Will we see him? Are these figures of speech or metaphors?
Is Jesus really serious? Whatever Jesus is preparing for us will be good enough.
We have no idea what heaven is like. Someone has said whatever heaven is and
whatever it is like, Jesus will be there.
As I wrote this sermon, 60,000 people in the United States have died from the virus. Some I
have known. Many people know some who have died from it. Many of those who have
died no doubt were believers in Christ. We do not know what it is like to be sure. We live
by faith. Somehow we believe what Jesus said about his father's house was serious.
Somehow we believe by faith that Jesus was serious when he said that where he is
we shall be also. When we see it whatever it is, we shall cry out like Thomas, "My Lord
and My God!" All because we have taken Jesus seriously.
